2/13/2014 3:18 PM PST BY TMZ STAFF

Before the Super Bowl, Jeremy Piven said Peyton Manning was the GOLD STANDARD for a celebrity pitchman -- but after his pathetic performance, is Peyton's star falling in Hollywood?

Piven was leaving Freewheel Sports in Larchmont today and made a strong case for why Peyton's still the man ... but not everyone's convinced.

Some people in the office think Peyton's marketing power took a serious hit on Feb. 2nd -- and it could open the door for other players like Russell Wilson and Richard Sherman to swoop in on those coveted sports-oriented endorsements.

1/21/2014 8:50 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

breaking news

"Entourage" director Doug Ellin had a brush with disaster on a yacht this weekend in Miami -- accidentally dropping his expensive camera into the ocean ... after shooting a wild bikini scene for the movie ... but thankfully, the damage was minimal.

Sources on the set tell TMZ, Ellin was stepping off the yacht onto a smaller boat when he accidentally dropped his personal camera into the water. He offered to pay divers $1,000 to find it, but it was impossible.

Luckily, the camera didn't contain any official film footage ... but it did have more than 500 behind-the-scene photos of all the girls in bikinis. Arguably a bigger loss.

Fun fact: the third girl from the right in the pink bikini is Ryan Seacrest's new girl Shayna Taylor ... who landed a role in the movie after her modeling career blew up (thanks to Ryan).

12/11/2013 12:30 AM PST BY TMZ STAFF

Kevin Dillon tells TMZ ... the "Entourage" movie will finally begin shooting in January -- and he won't let a little thing like a BROKEN WRIST keep him from doing his job

Dillon -- who was doing some shopping in Malibu last week -- wouldn't say HOW he jacked up his wrist, but explained that it's not the first time he's suffered the injury.

There was one more thing ... we asked Kev about his truck, the one that embarrassingly broke down on him (in front of our camera) the last time we shot him out ... and he dropped an interesting fact about an unlikely HERO who saved the day. Check out the clip.

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11/22/2013 1:22 PM PST BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

The "Entourage" movie could be derailed ... because of IDENTITY THEFT!

TMZ has obtained a cease and desist letter -- sent to Warner Bros. -- demanding that the studio make NO reference to Vinnie Chase, the main character played by Adrian Grenier. The man making the demand -- one Vincent Chase.

Who knew ... VC is a real guy -- a longtime Hollywood acting coach who's been teaching actors for more than 50 years. He reportedly met "Entourage" Exec. Prod. Mark Wahlberg in the late '90s.

In the cease and desist letter Chase says he believes the fictional character was named after him ... and says "Entourage" cannot use his name without his "express permission."

Chase claims he griped to producers when the TV show was on ... lots of letters but no lawsuit.

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10/25/2013 4:30 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

"Entourage" WILL hit the big screen, because the cast and the producers will all sign on with Warner Bros. as early as today ... TMZ has learned.

As we have previously reported, several people on the show have been holding out for a bigger piece of the action, but everyone has been pointing fingers at each other. Now we know ... the holdouts have been Adrian Grenier and Jerry Ferrara ... this according to sources connected to the production.

Production sources tell us ... Grenier, Ferrara and some other cast members are resentful that Jeremy Piven will be getting a bigger salary and bigger piece of the back end than them, and they've been haggling.

Our sources say Warner Bros. told the cast and producers that it would give a certain amount of back end, and it was up to them to figure out who gets what. Our sources say the wheeling and dealing is just about over and lawyers from all sides are trying to ink the deal today.

We're told if it doesn't happen today, it will happen in the next few days by necessity ... there are certain tax issues that create a make-or-break situation for the movie, and that deadline is days away.

10/21/2013 11:30 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

It's not official yet, but the "Entourage" movie is 100% happening -- in fact, production is expected to kick off as soon as January -- so says "Entourage" star Kevin Connolly.

Connolly -- who played E on the show -- was out in NYC this morning when we asked about the status of the film.

As we reported, executive producer Mark Wahlbergpreviously said the project was on hold due to certain "greedy" actors demanding unreasonable sums of money (he didn't specify who) -- but it sounds like they've since solved their money issues.

Connolly now says the project is back on track, and everyone is on board. They're gunning to start production in January. FINALLY. Check the clip for details.

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10/18/2013 1:45 PM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

1:00 PM PT -- Adrian Grenier shed some light on the "Entourage" feud ... saying, "It has, & never will be about the money for me. I promise."

However on his Instagram, AG added ... the issue really is about money ... but for the entire cast -- "I will sign any deal that gives ALL the boys an opportunity to share in the upside of success EQUALLY." Translation: Someone on the cast is getting paid way more than everyone else, and Adrian's pissed.

The mystery of the "Entourage" movie just got a little deeper -- Turtle, aka Jerry Ferrara tells us he doesn't care how much he gets paid ... and it's not his fault the project's on hold.

TMZ broke the story ... "Entourage" executive producer Mark Wahlberg said the long anticipated film version of the HBO show would start shooting when the "guys stop being so greedy."

Today at LAX, Jerry claimed Mark wasn't pointing the finger at him because, "I'd do it for free."

Here's the deal ... Jeremy Piven and Kevin Connelly have reportedly already signed deals ... so that would leave Jerry, Adrian Grenier, and Kevin Dillon as holdouts.

10/15/2013 7:59 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Mark Wahlberg -- who inspired and executive produced "Entourage" -- finally revealed the REAL holdup on the "Entourage" movie ... certain people are being way too greedy.

There's been talk of an "Entourage" flick ever since the HBO series wrapped back in 2011 ... and several actors have expressed serious interest in the project, but it hasn't gotten off the ground.

So,yesterday at LAX, we asked Mark when everyone's favorite Hollywood crew would finally reunite on the big screen -- and the answer we got was very interesting:

"As soon as them guys stop being so greedy."

Mark wouldn't specify who he was talking about, but he did explain that the "greedy" people need to look at the situation from a "long term" mindset -- "It's one of those things where if the movie's a success, we'll get to make a lot more of them and then we'll probaby make a lot of money."

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3/27/2013 7:00 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

EXCLUSIVE

Adrian Grenier tells TMZ ... he wishes he NEVER named Justin Bieber as the ideal cameo for his upcoming "Entourage" movie ... but still insists the dude could be a great actor under the right conditions.

Grenier -- sporting a cool new samurai-style hairdo -- was leaving The Sayers Club in L.A. last night when we asked about recent comments he made to HollywoodLife.com about Bieber ... when he said, "I saw [Justin's] documentary and thought he was so cool. I think he would be great!”

But last night, Adrian pulled a 180 ... telling us, "Why did I even say it? I started something I didn't want to finish ... so, I don't want to talk about it."

Still, Adrian says Justin has the potential to be great on screen ... because under the right circumstance ... "Everybody can act."

Adrian says he also feels Justin's pain when it comes to criticism about his personal life ... and can relate to JB's urge to race Ferraris.

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10/28/2011 10:30 AM PDT BY TMZ STAFF

Kevin Connolly thinks the MTV star who's suing "Entourage" is a frickin' moron -- claiming there's no way in hell the show could've ever stolen the name Johnny Bananas from him.

Connolly was leaving Dan Tana's in Hollywood last night ... when he told us, "I think he's crazy ... he's bananas if he thinks he's gonna get the money."

TMZ broke the story ... former "Real World" star Johnny Devenanzio recently filed a lawsuitagainst the people behind "Entourage" ... claiming he owns the rights to the name Johnny Bananas, because he used the nickname during his stint on MTV.

Devenanzio claims "Entourage" was blatantly attempting to "capitalize on the name recognition" when they ran a storyline in which Johnny Drama voices a cartoon monkey named Johnny Bananas.

HERE'S THE RUNDOWN Meredith Viera Defends the Killer of Cecil the Lion Jennifer Beals in a Hot-Dog-in-Car Controversy A 'Bachelorette' Star Gets Bashed in the Head with a Brick Zayn Malik is Goin' Solo Thanks to Simon Cowell